Gifts in Gold (HwK's Holiday Gift Guide)

By now you've probably seen at least a dozen gift guides.  If you are like me, you've missed Black Friday, and Cyber Monday and you are already anxious about the shipping windows for a timely holiday delivery.

So, why not make things easy and absurd and get all of your gifts in one color? This year, HwK going for the gold, well gold gifts that are under $100 dollars.  Because who would complain about opening something with a little sparkle?

Gold Magnetic Polaroid Frames- Perfect for the new parent that wants a little glam on the fridge or in the office.
Annie Glass Heart Bowl- Tiny but elegant
Jonathan Adler Zebra Stacking Dish- For the temptress
Monogram Throw Pillow- Good for grownups, recent college grads and babies
West Elm Tray- Available in other colors and looks good in any home
Agate Coasters- Because if you are going to gift coasters they should be gorgeous
Jonathan Adler Gold Candle- 40 dollars for a candle?? I know, but they smell and look great.
Mikasa Flutes- For the newly engaged or cohabitating couple
Growler with Gold Moose- For your  mountain friend who is into homemade brewing. (You know who you are) 

HwK's Washington, D.C. Holiday Guide

There are less than four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lots of people let the holidays take over their lives. All the merrymaking can lead to some negatives: feisty relatives, rowdy shoppers, upset tummies, terrible flight delays etc. etc.

To counteract the hard parts of the holiday season, I've compiled a list of things to do between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with an emphasis on free and a de-emphasis on shopping.

Baby's Breath (Go Big or Go Home)

A good friend of mine from grad school got married last month. The bride and groom are a gorgeous couple (inside and out) and a their wedding was one for the books. Connor Studios took wonderful photos of their wedding and they can be found HERE.

When guests entered the reception area, everyone was collectively blown away by the scene. The bride chose baby's breath as her primary flower. This wasn't baby's breath the filler flower this was baby's breath the WOW flower. I'm still thinking about what it must have looked like when the baby's breath was being taken out off delivery truck (cue swooning lady). 

If you want to make an impact with baby's breath, you need to go big or go home.  Don't use it as your secondary flower, use it as your only flower, and use it en masse. 

If you see a  Subaru overflowing with baby's breath sometime next month, that would be me.

Keeping On

Picture via the New York Times

My husband's family has been saying goodbye to one of its dear loved ones this fall.  The jury's still out, my brother-in-law might pull through but the doctors say otherwise. 

Life has a way of pausing when you are in the hospital, while the hustle and bustle of our lives outside continues.  It's made it hard for me to do much besides the very basics and asking Dr. Google lots of very scary questions. Calls don't get returned, plans are cancelled, and blogs go unwritten for weeks.

I've wondered how we will celebrate the holidays given all of this uncertainty.  But we have a really happy little one that demands smiles, and dancing, and joy.

So just like that, we are doing the holidays.  Thanksgiving dinner is arranged, Christmas tickets have been purchased, and to-do lists are getting done.  We are all hoping the holiday season will lift our spirits, and help us to build some new happy memories to counteract the sad ones.

How do you stay positive during times of uncertainty?

Streamlined Cold Weather Wardrobe

Clothes: Coat/Dress/Pixie Pant/Sweater/White Button Down Shirt/Sparkle T
Accessories: Scarf/Necklace/Pumps/Ankle Boots/Envelope Clutch/Bucket Bag

Brrrr it's cold out there! I found myself shivering under my comforter yesterday morning and at the same time dreading the fact that I was yet again not ready for the change in seasons. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm totally excited about incorporating the 365 Style method into my life.  I like the idea of putting together a few go-to outfits so that I can walk out the door looking presentable 100% of the time. 

Streamline Your Wardrobe (Nicky Hilton's 365 Style)

Post baby, I have really struggled with maintaining a sense of style. Like a lot of moms, fashion is not at the top of my list of priorities. My body is not the same, so all of my favorite wardrobe stables are 3-4 sizes too small. I don't really want to go shopping with what little free time I have these days.  And, I have far less disposable income than I once did.

In the past year, I've learned that the only way to maintain some sense of order in your life is to have systems, lists, and plans in place.  And I've just realized that I need a system so that I can leave my house looking somewhat decent. 

Enter Nicky Hilton's 365 Style where the hotel heiress lays out a system so that you can be fashionable regardless of the size of your tush or bank account. 

Happy Friday (September 19, 2014)

I haven't done a Friday links post in ages. 

I just heard about the November Project.  Has anyone participated?  #justshowup

The Washington Post's Fall Festival Guide.

Have you checked out Baked and Wired's green parking spot?  Well, there are others.

This Wiener Race looks adorable.

DC Veg fest is tomorrow at the Yards Park.

I'm loving this pineapple themed birthday party.

My fall shopping list includes these flats, this skirt, and this jacket.

Baby Boos (Baby Halloween Fashions)

1. Monster Romper 2. Cat Set 3. Ghost Socks 4. Orange Elf Suit 5. Gap PJ's 6. Booties 

 

Last week I had a post on Halloween fashions. I realized after I selected the items that there wasn't much on there for bitty babies.  

 

It's funny how quickly I've forgotten about my daughter's early days.  Less than a year ago she was in that cuddly, pj's are appropriate all day phase. She seemed so tiny at the time that I wondered if we should even go through the hassle of dressing her up for Halloween.  

 

Here are some picks for you parents want to be festive but might not want to deal with selecting a costume.  They also make great gifts for any Fall baby. 

 

P.S. I really wish I had known about these elf suits last year.  

Fab-boo-lous (Halloween Fashion)

1. Masked Sweatshirt 2. Camo Pants 3. Bat Hoodie
4. Cat Cap 5. Ghost Cap 6. Socks 7. Dress 8. Leggings

It's never too early to start thinking about Halloween, especially if you are a kid.  Here are some non-costumey Halloween picks for your little ones. 

Shoe Loves (Birks and Socks)

The 90's are back.  I'm not complaining about it, I loved the 90's (with all my heart).  I did make a number of fashion choices that I'm not in a rush to revisit: dark lipstick, matte foundation, shirts under dresses, and of course the boyfriend jeans. 

This summer I got caught up in the 90's revival and bought myself a pair of Birkenstocks.  Now that fall is here, I'm ready to wear my Birkenstocks as long as the weather allows.  Fortunately, my daughter is still too young to be embarrassed by me.

How would you wear Birkenstocks on colder days?  Hat tip to my friend K.B. for the inspiration.

This is my favorite look by far.
 Image via The Street Style

Heath Ceramics (Dining Loves)

I just discovered Heath Ceramics this summer. If you live on the West Coast you might think that I've been living under a rock.

Shoe Loves (Charleston Shoe Company)

Charleston Shoe Company's owner and founder.  Images via Charleston Shoe's website

During our vacation I discovered these awesome boots made by the Charleston Shoe Company.  I liked them because they looked like they would be sturdy but sexy. 

Happy Friday (August 15, 2014)

Image via Rate your Burn

What are you up to this weekend?  I'm going to take it easy and do some much needed unpacking from our vacation. 

I do plan on going to my first class at Soul Cycle's new DC location.  Like many people in Washington, I've been anticipating this opening for a long time.

Afterwards, I'd love to make these snow cones from Little Miss Party Planner.

The Muppets covering the Beastie Boys.

Since high school, I've been in the practice of wearing some type of sun protection on my face almost everyday.  Here's a great primer on sunscreen.

And in case you missed them here are my posts from this week: a recap of our vacation, packing your airplane diaper bag, and awesome baby sandals.

Airplane Diaper Bag

1. Changing Pad/ 2. Ziploc Bag/ 3. Dirty Diaper Bag/ 4. Snack Cup/ 5. Sippy Cup/ 6. Snacks/ 7. Board Book/ 8. Small Toy/ 9. Teddy Bear/ 10. Outfit/ 11. Blanket/ 12. Muslin Blankets and Skip Hop Bag.

We just got back from vacation and it was the first time I flew solo with my daughter.  In the past, I had my husband to help me out.  So on this trip I needed to make sure that I had as little as possible so that I could easily get on and off the plane with my very active new walker.

These were our must-have items.   

Shoe Loves (Saltwater Sandals)

I know it's August and you probably aren't thinking about summer clothes anymore, but I have to tell you about these wonderful sandals my daughter received from her great aunt for her first birthday. 

Return from the Green World

A grey morning in Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard. Photo by Handle with Karo

We are back from our first vacation as a family of three.

In college, I learned about a literary concept called the Green World.  In this world, a story's principal characters converge in a loosely structured, natural environment where their issues become resolved (think a Midsummer Night's Dream).

Oh the Humanity (Humans of New York)

Do you follow Humans of New York on Facebook or Tumblr?  If you don't, you should check it out.

For those of you that don't know about it, Humans of New York is a photoblog of street portraits featuring everyday New Yorkers.  It StoryCorps in photos.

I love the posts because they remind me that everyone has a story and that you never know what the person standing next to you is going through.  Some of the posts make me laugh and others get me teary eyed.

Did I mention this project was so successful the photographer, Brandon Stanton, turned it into a book?

Here are some of my favorites:

How to Hire and Pay your Child's Caregiver

If you live in the Washington Metro area, I don't need to tell you how difficult it is to find child care for children under 3. I also don't need to tell you how expensive it is.

In our case, I called three different day care centers the morning I found out I was pregnant. The waitlist for each location would extend far beyond my maternity leave.  This mean that I knew that I would have to seek out alternatives to a group child care setting (nanny share, home day care, in-home nanny).  After taking into account our different needs, my husband and I decided to hire a nanny. 

We soon learned that finding and securing in-home childcare is a bit more difficult than going the day care route.  You are responsible for making sure your child is in the care of a trustworthy and dependable person.  You also have to take on the responsibilities that other employers have which means that you need to set up your own systems so that you can properly manage this employee. 

Here is a guide that I put together based on my experiences of hiring and employing our nanny.   

Ice Cream Social (The Beauty of the Ice Cream Sammie)



Prettied up store bought ice cream sammies via Stephanie Lynn

This Sunday is National Ice Cream Day. In honor of this special day, I wanted to take a moment to talk about ice cream sandwiches.  We had them at my daughter's birthday party and I have been eating the leftovers ever since.  Until last week, I don't think I have enjoyed an ice cream sandwich since I was a kid. I do hope to have them at her birthday parties for as long as she will let me.

We kept our sandwiches simple and just bought what our local Safeway had available. But a quick search on pinterest tells me that you can do a lot with these fun novelties.

Where I've Been (Crazy Day Slippers)

Aren't these Stubbs and Wooten slippers perfect for those days where you feel like life is spinning out of control?  The best thing about palm trees is that they sway all over the place but their roots keep them grounded. 

Life's been a little cray cray since I last posted. Over the past three weeks, I've been to two memorial services and spent my first weekend away from my baby.  In addition to that, our nanny was on vacation so I had to navigate the crazy world of finding backup childcare when your child is experiencing stranger anxiety.  I had planned on taking some time off to oversee the transition, but work got totally insane. And by insane I mean the kind of busy where you might decide to go to work even if you had a bad case of food poisoning. 

On the bright side, my daughter taught herself how to walk, turned one, became adjusted to other caregivers and survived for her first birthday party.  And (drum roll please), our first real family vacation starts one week from today.

When my life gets crazy I try hard to simplify.  Meaning I don't do anything beyond resolving the crazy.  Sometimes that's a good strategy but other times it means you don't get to do the things you enjoy that help relieve that stress.  It also means that you put things off that you need or want to do.  That camp care package I put together?  It hasn't been sent yet.  Haven't returned your call (trust me I feel terribly guilty about it). 

Next time this happens I need to remind myself about palm trees and how sometimes keeping up with your routines and hobbies (your foundation) can help you weather the storm. 

How do you stay grounded when your life is feeling like is spinning out of control?

Happy Friday (June 27, 2014)

What are you up to this weekend? I'm going on my first overnight trip sans baby. Looking forward to resting and relaxing but also sad to leave my little one.

Still trying to figure out what to do? Check out my summer guide or take a look at these suggestions below.

Friday

No World Cup games. Take some time to catch up on the rest of your life.

Saturday

The Smithsonian Folklife festival begins this weekend.

For those us that came of age in the 90's, the 9:30 club is hosting No Scubs, a 90's dance party. Get ready to do some Vogueing.

Sunday

Watch the Netherlands vs. Mexico at noon. I don't know about you but Mexico wins the Cup even if they don't really win the Cup. Their coach and goalie are awesome!

Mouse on the Move is showing at Bethesda's Imagination Stage. The show is good for children 1-5 years old.

In other news. . .

This video about encouraging your girls to be more than just pretty faces.

NPR's series on Cuba, has peaked my interest.

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Happy Campers (Camp Care Package Gift Guide)

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Summer is in full swing. I imagine many of you know a camper that is either having the time of her life or about to have the time of her life.  What are you planning on sending to your favorite camper? 

1. Watercolor Postcards and Watercolors- Camp is one of the last places on Earth where you actually send and receive snail mail.  These watercolor postcards are a great idea.  Your camper need not only use watercolors.  She can draw on them, decorate them with stickers, decoupage. . .  

2. Personalized Stationary- I love these cards because they have a campy feel to them.  Tinyprints can get these to your camper in less than a week. 

3. Stickers- Younger campers will trade them and older campers can put them on envelopes. 

4. Books- Kids actually read at camp because there's no television.  I am told that Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl series are popular with both pre-teens and their parents. 

5. Fake Tattoos- Because we all know that camp is the time for fake tattoos, friendship bracelets and other fun stuff.

6. A knotted bracelet screams summer.

7. Zinka- I don't know if kids these days use it, but I'm glad to see it's still around. 

8. Glow Bracelets- Things that glow in the dark are fun for campfire time and also after the lights go out.  Get this pack of 100 and your camper can share them with her bunkmates.

9. Hairbands- like socks and underwear, you can't have too many hairbands.

What would you add to your camper's care package?

Happy Friday (Summer Solstice Weekend 2014)

What are you up to this weekend?  I am going to a bridal shower.  I start boot-camp this Sunday! 

Still figuring out your plans?  Check out my Summer Reference Guide.  Or, you could spend your whole weekend drinking caipirinhas and watching the World Cup. 

Washington DC Summer Guide (Bookmark Me)

Kiddos swimming in Rock Creek Park. 

Summer is not my favorite season here in Washington. 

I grew up in Miami where getting to the beach was easy, and the public pool looks like THIS.  Then I spent several years in Chicago where the lake and a bevy of summer festivals make summer one of the city's best assets. 

But I call Washington home, so I need to make the best of my summers as long as I'm here.  What I have discovered is that enjoying a DC summer requires planning.  And planning can be hard especially because May, June, and July are typically our city's busiest months. 

Behold, Handle with Karo's Reference Guide to a Washington summer. 

Happy Friday (June 6, 2014)

What are you up to this weekend?


Friday:

• It's Pride Weekend!

• The National Museum of Women in the Arts is hosting a happy hour.

• The Source Festival begins tonight. Get ready for a month of original plays.

The Pumping Project (My Pumping Story)

Pumping in front of the Eiffel Tower with a hospital grade pump (NBD).  Photo via Rookie Moms

Rookie Mom's is trying to make pumping an accepted daily activity through its Mom's Pumping Project. They also want the world to see the craziness many Moms endure by encouraging us to upload our pumping photos with the hashtags #rookiemoms #pumpingproject.

The Pumping Project came about two months too late for me to post my own photos. And, I would've had some awesome photos to share with you all. 

Father's Day Gift Guide 2014

Shinola Watch/ Levenger Iphone and Card Holder/ Glennfiddich 15/ Merino Hoodie/
Madras Shorts/Tie/ Converse by John Varvantos/ Baseball Cap

Father's Day is coming up. It's a going to be a big day in our family. . . my husband's first father's day coincides with his birthday.   So this year I need to come up with something really special. 

I typically like to give a material gift with something a little more thoughtful and non-material. Here are some of my ideas. 

What do you plan on giving your guy for Father's Day?

Happy Friday (May 29, 2014)

Summertime photo via Pinterest

 
Summer is here! Dive In! What are you up to this weekend?

Hop on your bike and get your beer tasting on, this Satuday at Tour de Fat. I can say that this event is a lot of fun.

Free Summer Saturdays at the Corcoran

The Phillips Collection will be showing Clive Owen's Film, Words and Pictures.

Step Afrika performs at Catholic University on Saturday and Sunday.

Also on Saturday, from 12:00- 7:00 pm, Glen Echo Park will be hosting the Washington Folklore Festival. There will be music, storytelling, dancing and crafts. This looks very kid friendly.

Lil Om Yoga has two great workshops this weekend. On Saturday afternoon, there will be a Mother Daughter Playdate Yoga for moms and their 4-8 year old daughters. On Sunday there will be a pre-natal workshop on Breastfeeding.

In other news.

On the beauty of writing letters to your children.

For those of us who don't go to the movies anymore, the Washington Post has a list of newly released DVD's.

Did you read about how hair length might be linked to success in the work place?

Loyola Law is telling students not to wear stilettos to their summer internships.  Leave the Louboutins for the weekend?
 

 

On the Pulse of the Morning (Maya Angelou)

Maya Angelou passed away yesterday.

I remember listening to Maya Angelou read her poem, "On the Pulse of the Morning," during President Clinton's first inauguration. I watched it in Mrs. Levy's American History class. Sure I was interested in the inauguration, but I was also happy to have over an hour to tune-out and finish up some homework.

That was until Maya Angelou woke me up. She read her beautiful poem about America's history. In less then six minutes, Ms. Angelou rocked my world. I thought about that poem for days and that weekend I found my way to Books and Books where I bought a copy of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

Thank you Ms. Angelou, for inspiring my teenage soul, for writing great books, for making great poetry, and for leading an amazing life.

Godspeed. 

Weekend Packing List (Fashion by the Numbers)

1. Hat/2. Fatigue Jacket/3. Stripped Tank Top/4. Boyfriend Jeans/5. Dress/
6. Heels /7. Clutch /8. Swim Suit /9. PJ's/10 Silk Drawstring Pants /11. T-Shirt /
12 Hoops /13 Slip-on Sneakers /14. Weekender Bag

Travel light, travel right, it's only an overnight. 

My very chic aunt would say this each time I packed for camp or for a vacation. Now that I'm older and somewhat wiser, I hear her saying those words when I get ready to pack for a trip. 

Summer Bag Watch (The Herschel Novel Duffle)

We were away last weekend for my husband's college reunion.  One of the things I love about travelling and taking small getaways is that you get out of your routine and see things you don't see on your average day.

Now I could tell you about the lovely exhibit we saw, the new people we met, the music we listened to, and so on, but for this post I'm going to tell you about a bag I discovered: the Herschel Novel Duffle.

I love that this bag has a compartment for shoes that seemed large enough to fit sneakers or a pair of men's oxfords.  The interior of the bag also has several pockets so you could easily place things like your keys or sunglasses.  The cross body strap makes it easy to carry. 

Do you have a special bag for short getaways?

Happy Birthday to Me (The Best Birthday Gifts!)

 

This weekend we drove up to New England for my husband's college reunion.  It was our first extended road trip as a family of three, and I would say it was a success. 

 

My birthday also fell on the long weekend.  Since we were travelling we decided to hold off on any big celebrations until we returned from our trip.   

 

Happy Friday (Memorial Day Weekend 2014)

Heading out of town this weekend? The Washington Post says the best time to get out of town is before 9am Friday.

The Delaplane Strawberry Festival is this Saturday and Sunday. I've never been but it looks like fun.

If you are staying in town you probably already know that DC is probably one of the best places to spend Memorial Day. The Washington Post has a list of things you can do this weekend.

For starters, there is the National Memorial Day Concert on the Capitol Lawn. I've gone to this before and it is worth going to. Gates open at 5pm for the 8 pm concert.

I would tell you to head over to Good Stuff Eatery after for a burger but it's closed on Sundays. This is an open message to Good Stuff that they should really be open on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

Memorial Day weekend in the DC area also means that it is the start of pool season. Something this Miami girl never fully understood is why pools in this area don't open until Memorial Day weekend.

The Petworth Community Market is back—this week, country artist Jeff Smith will perform. There’s storytelling and arts and crafts for the kids. Fresh produce and locally foods.

This Saturday is your last chance to catch the Diva and the Bear at the Kennedy Center. The 11 am performance is sensory friendly.

Many of their contributions have been forgotten and are not recorded in today’s history books. The Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery is changing this omission through a massive oral history and research project.

Summer Bag Watch (State of Escape, Escape Bag)

I'm loving this neon yellow bag from State of Escape.  It is roomy and bright.  Perfect for the beach or walking around town.  And get this, you can actually wash it.  The mom in me is very excited about the last part. H/T to Little Miss Party.

Picnic Party (Outdoor Tablescapes)

Our building has a grassy area that is not fancy but is perfect for playing and picnics.  There is a picnic table, a shady tree, and soft grass.  What more do you need?  Oh, how about gorgeous linens, funky mismatched tableware, and most importantly awesome friends.


Let's start with Margherita Missoni's wedding picnic.

The Drama Free Friendship Manifesto



Cartoon by Gemma Correll

Have you seen THIS blog post from Renegade Mothering.  I must say it is quite a complicated manifesto for the simple message it is trying to convey:  cut your friends some slack because we all flake out.

So here's my friendship mantra:

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. We all have our own struggles and I trust that we all do the best with what we have.  Sometimes life gets in the way. Don't worry about it, because I know we will both be there for each other when it really counts. I'm committed to cutting you some slack.  Hopefully you can do the same for me. 

Do you have words that you live by?  How have your friendships changed in recent years?

Picnic Essentials

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This weekend we had impromptu cocktails on the grass with our neighbors and their ten-month old. We brought an old blanket, a bottle of wine, roasted garbanzo beans, and toys for the kiddos. 

We had so much fun!

After our picnic, my husband made a list of what we needed so that we would be better prepared for the next time.  He is quite practical, so the list consisted entirely of things we already own.  I however decided to do some online browsing. 

Happy Friday (Happy Bike to Work Day!)

Happy Bike to Work Day! Hope you have a poncho and rain pants. . . 

If you are free at noon today, why not bike over to the Arts Club of Washington for the Story of Babar noon concert?

On Friday evening, Dance Place's step team is hosting Step it Up. Get ready for a night of crafts and step dancing.

The annual Dragon Boat Race is happening in Georgetown this Saturday. The opening ceremony begins at 8:30 am. If you find yourself up earlier, the setup begins at 6 am.

Shopping and drinking? Don't mind if I do.

• NYC-based fashion line Meg will have a trunk show at Cork Market on Sunday, May 18, from 1-5 pm.
• And at the same time, DC Flea will be at Marvin.

16 Restaurants that are great for vegetarians in Washington, DC

Commencement season is in full swing! Click HERE for a commencement speech that my Graduate School professor, Charles Wheelan gave. To date, it's my favorite.

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